[xwingping]

Hi people,

brand new to screen printing just ordered a 2 color press today. I was wondering if you think I should go with water based inks or plastisol for printing on womens underwear. 95% cotton 5% spandex.

any advice would be appreciated ^_^

 

[Em11]

Plastisol needs to reach over 300 degrees to cure, so you'd have to worry about that if you choose plastisol over waterbased. underwear would be pretty easy to fit into a conventional cooking oven, though, so as long as you had at least one of those handy for curing, it shouldn't be too difficult.

 

[xwingping]

I also heard that water based it "lighter" on the fabric. I'm leaning towards it. If anyone has any input let me know!

 

[Em11]

you can thin down plastisol with reducer and soft hand and make it soft on the fabric, too. Plastisol is easier to print with. waterbase dries in the air, and therefor dries in the screen if you don't work quickly enough. But waterbase cleans up (with water instead of solvent) and cures easier. if you end up going with waterbased, make sure the emulsion that you use is rated for waterbased ink.

 

[miktoxic]

you can thin down plastisol with reducer and soft hand and make it soft on the fabric, too. Plastisol is easier to print with. waterbase dries in the air, and therefor dries in the screen if you don't work quickly enough. But waterbase cleans up (with water instead of solvent) and cures easier. if you end up going with waterbased, make sure the emulsion that you use is rated for waterbased ink.

yes^.

waterbased printing is a different animal altogether BUT it gives off a much smoother feel or 'hand'. the ink is actually going into the garment and not laying on top.

the problem is when printing that EM mentioned is that if you don't print correctly there is a greater chance of screwing up a bunch of shirts.

you always have to back-flood the screen after every print. which means after getting your print correct you lift the screen and pull back the ink over the design area filling it so it won't dry within.

plastisol is so much easier to print but the long term benefits of water based printing has made me use that method for my own shirts and i try to talk my customers who want fashionable wear into doing the same.

 

[drewills]

Xwingping how did it turn out? I need the exact same procress but I will pay someone.